external HD question

[mahtan]

hello everyone

I do not know much about external hard drives but i was wondering if it is possible to install software in an external hard drive and run it from there.

Actually this is my problem. I do not have my own PC. However, I am trying to learn how to use 3D Max. I used to install it at school, however, now the system does not allow me to install any software without administrator privileges. That's why I thought that I could install it in an external hard drive and then just run it from there. However, as i said before I do not know if this is possible.

If it is possible, can one just install the software and run it or would it be better if I install an operating system as well in the external HD?

I would really apreciate any comments or suggestions
thanks

[rspassey]

As Far As I Know, yes it is possible to transport information/programs/files etc with an external hardrive and access them from another location. When the harddrive is regonized it will automatically install the needed driver to access and use it, kinda like when you connect an mp3 player for the first time and you get the little message box "mass usb storage device detected."

As long as the hard drive is recongnized by the OS on the computer you wont have to install and OS on it, then you would get into the whole dual boot process which might not even work unless BIOS registers you external harddrive and the OS is detected, thus prompting you on which drive you want to boot from.

[mahtan]

thanks for your help

however, I am still a little concerned about what would happen with the registry,

Registry is another thing that I do not fully understand, but that always causes me some trouble
All I know is that in order to install 3D max I need to be able to write or modify the registry.
I have no idea what the registry is, where it is located or

is the registry part of the OS?
if it is,
what happens when I install software in an external hard drive?
am I writing in the registry that is installed on that particular machine?
or
am I writing in the registry of the external hard drive?

As you can see I am really confused here
so please if anyone would be so kind to explain me this
I would apreciate it a lot

thanks

[TwoRails]

In brief: Yes and No. Yes, an external drive is the same as any other in respect on how it functions mechanically, so storage and data are no problem. You "can" install programs, however, the program will only run on the very same machine that the external drive was hooked up to for the install.

[blue60007]

Originally Posted by TwoRails In brief: Yes and No. Yes, an external drive is the same as any other in respect on how it functions mechanically, so storage and data are no problem. You "can" install programs, however, the program will only run on the very same machine that the external drive was hooked up to for the install.

Right. But even if you are using a program that is registry independent, you still wouldn't be able to use it on the school's computers. That's the way it is at my school (unless you rename the file to iexplore.exe or something else legit, or run it through visual studio or VB script in word )